Hamburger Helper Faces New Rivals
In the Race to Offer Homemade Feel

MINNEAPOLIS -- Bob Waldron is engaged in one of the food industry's fiercest battles. Sitting at a small conference table in his office, he recently revealed his latest, not-so-secret weapon.

"This might seem small to you," he said, tearing open a box of Hamburger Helper -- the new Philly Cheesesteak variety -- and pouring its packet of french-fried onions across the table. "But we generally have not had a crunch...